From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrocketrock‧et1 /ˈrɒkɪt $ ˈrɑː-/ ●●○ noun 1 TTS[countable] a vehicle used for travelling or carrying things into space, which is shaped like a big tube → spacecraft The rocket was launched from a space research base. a space rocket2 PMW[countable] a weapon shaped like a big tube that is fired at things → missile anti-tank rockets3 DLO[countable] a firework that goes high into the air before exploding into coloured lights4 [uncountable] British English a plant with green leaves and a strong taste, eaten raw in salads SYN arugula American English
Examples from the Corpus
rocket• Wichman recently designed the passenger compartment for a rocket ship being developed by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace.• Ready, Set, Go! went through version 2 like a rocket and emerged late last year as version 3.• Heavy artillery and rocket attacks rained down on the camp.• It had two lids which you closed once you were in, and instead of bullets, it fired rockets.• Finding a way out of this mess does not require rocket science.• That rocket itself also appears to have strayed off course.• The result is a devastating detonation that completely destroys the rocket.• This nuclear thermal rocket can perform as well as a hydrogen-oxygen chemical rocket if the exhaust temperature is the same.space rocket• Display of early aircraft and space rockets.rocketrocket2 verb [intransitive] 1 (also rocket up)BFINCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT if a price or amount rockets, it increases quickly and suddenly Interest rates rocketed up.rocket (from something) to something Car sales rocketed from 180 to 2000 a year.2 [always + adverb/preposition]FAST/QUICK to move somewhere very fast SYN shoot The train rocketed through the tunnel. Larsson’s shot rocketed into the back of the net.3 [always + adverb/preposition]SUCCESSFUL to achieve a successful position very quickly SYN shootrocket to Their new album rocketed to number one in the charts. Beatty rocketed to stardom after his first film.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
rocket• A diabetic, she spent two days in the hospital last week when stress sent her blood pressure rocketing.• Why has the dollar rocketed against the yen in particular?• You usually prefer rocketing and rolling to swiveling.• Interest rates have rocketed as credit has become scarce.• Profits for 1991-92 have jumped £2m to £13.6m and its pubs total has rocketed from 376 to 532.• Pearce's request for new terms could have been sparked by transfer fees and wages rocketing in the last 12 months.• Peschisllibo ravaged Derby's defence in an exhilarating first half when Birmingham rocketed into a three goal lead.• Today, many corporate astronauts are rocketing into market space as if they were launched from Cape Canaveral with no Houston base.• Biotech company stocks rocketed on speculation drugs they are developing could turn into blockbusters.• The rave band, which rocketed to No.8 with Fire, believes the Beeb show is death to dance.• Gold prices rocketed to their highest level since 1983.rocket (from something) to something• But the result confirmed that building society provisions will rocket this year to cover bad and doubtful home loans.• He initiated the development of space-based photographic surveillance satellites and the Agena rocket stage to insert them into orbit.• It names an H-hour when the great industrial rocket is supposed to lift off in one go.• A rocket race to Mars Try this game from Chatterbox 2 with your class.• As the rocket starts to move the couch accelerates past him.• It was like a rocket, brilliant to start with then fizzling out to nothing.• You usually prefer rocketing and rolling to swiveling.• The rocket was exposed to the vagaries of the weather, and the launch pad was blocked for long periods of time.rocket to• Krickstein first rocketed to prominence at the 1983 U.S. Open.From Longman Business Dictionaryrocketrock‧et /ˈrɒkətˈrɑː-/ (also rocket up) verb [intransitive] if a price or amount rockets, it increases quickly and suddenlyInterest rates rocketed.Mexican shares rocketed up 5.4% yesterday.→ See Verb tableOrigin rocket1 (1600-1700) Italian rocchetta “small stick used in spinning thread”, from rocca “stick used in spinning”